AlaskaStories.com

Alaska stories, if you can imagine such a thing.

Kick the chairs out of the way, shoot the top off the bottle of whiskey, crank up the rock and roll tunes, light the cigars, run the pitiable government chaps back into their hole, and this aint no bullshit...

Oh, stories are being added from time to time, albeit not many or often. The story guy, with gobs of outrageous not-sure-if-he-survived stories in the files, is busy with other websites, harassing the government with questions for which you want the answers, much to the anger of the government folks who perceive themselves to be above question. He is also slaving away to fix up the new AlaskanAlpineClub.org headquarters, drinking cheap wine for lack of money for better wine, keeping his rusted-out 35 year old jeep running to get to town, scrounge the dumpsters for useful things, haranguing colleagues with rhetorical theatrics over their failure to protect your rights for you, toiling at certain public benefit projects, and whatever else he claims to be doing as an excuse for the moment. But be patient. Something new may show up here. There are plenty of other websites to surf, equally boring. Now, wisely abandon the computer, and get back to something more productive.

Ice vault where the next Alaska Stories are secured.

Doug Buchanan
Fairbanks, Alaska
May 19, 1947 - Feb. 7, 2012
On to his next adventure

For those of you who never had the pleasure of meeting Doug Buchanan, the creator of this website and numerous others, I will provide some background.

Doug was raised on a farm in Selah, WA, the youngest of 7 children.  He found life to be exciting and interesting.  His many hobbies included building model airplanes of balsa wood with engines that allowed him to let them fly as long and far as the fuel lasted.  During Boy Scouts he was selected for the Order of the Arrow.  This began a never ending exploration of NW Indian activities and art.  He began chipping arrow heads and spear points; he captured birds and used their feathers in making dance costumes.  He used to go to dance competitions at the local Yakama pow wows and succeeded in winning some, much to the chagrin of the Native Americans.  He began climbing in Washington and found it filled a need for adventure.  After high school he attended Washington State University, earning a degree in Wildlife Biology and a Regular Army commission as a graduate of ROTC.  He ended up in Viet Nam as a platoon leader and helicopter pilot.  After Viet Nam he was assigned to Ft. Wainwright in Fairbanks.  He resigned his commission in Fairbanks and remained a resident for the remainder of his life. 

He was a dedicated bachelor, finding that his need for adventure precluded the time and financial commitment required to maintain a long term relationship. He stated "there is only time enough for three hobbies in life" for him that was climbing (his primary activity in the winter), kayaking (summers in SE Alaska) and skydiving (all year round).  

He believed in the freedom of the hills and railed against the National Park Service and their regulations restricting public access to public lands.  In that light he founded the Alaskan Alpine Club, a club for climbers and a political platform for freedom in the hills.   On this website you will find great stories from almost 40 years of Alaska adventures.  If you follow some of his links you will find pages where he espouses his political ideas.

Please enjoy these stories he published of his adventures.

David Buchanan

Oh, ah, and if you like what you read at this site, and you buy books, go to one of those bookstore places and see
what a comparable book costs, and if you wish, send that trifling to Doug. He will thank you and pay his rent, web hosting fees, and buy more ammo to open the next bottle of whiskey or wine so he can keep his fingers tap-dancing on the keyboard. So far, after several years, as of June 2011, this website has been rewarded with a $10 donation, a ceramic mug and a bottle of Scottish barley juice. No wonder those other websites are so goobered-up with advertisements.

Aint this e-book thing great. The author keeps adding to the book, without charging you for another book or even the first one if you can't afford it. There was once a famous painter whose paintings were in museums. He kept getting caught in the museums with his paints and brushes, improving his paintings. These stories may become more accurate from time to time, when I brush in a few adjectives or events.

Ah, and if you have a government job, like I had in the past, and if you don't have a genuine sense of humor, find a government source for Alaska stories, because this site does not flatter the delicate egos of the poor sad sorts who have fallen victim to government jobs. It could be no other way and be written by an Alaskan.

Fasten your seat belt...

Stories 1
Stories 2
Stories 3
Stories 4
Stories 5
Stories 6
Stories 7
Stories 8
Stories 9
Stories 10
Stories 11
Stories 12
Stories 13
Stories 14 With recent additions
Places
Concepts
Smoking
Smoke Photos
Smoke Others
Stuff
Links And our Operative

Awards, Certificates and Illusions...

Low Altitude Lassitude Award, 2009, 2010
Writer Laziness Award 2010
Where's The New Stories Rebuke, 2010
Potential Excellence Certificate of 2009
Best Stories Award, 2000, 07
Rhetorical Illusion Award, 2002, 05, 08
This Aint No Bullshit Award, 2001, 04, 05, 07
The Prestigious Dribble Award 2001, 04, 08
Certificate for Excellence in ______
Hyperbole Award 2001, 04, 07
Accuracy in Political Comment Award 2000 - 2009
Whoyafoolin Award
Lies, All Lies Award
Unlimited Literary License Award
Certificate of Analytical Accuracy in Adventure
Last Award on the List, 2009
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